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Inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, J.G. Ballard and Philip K. Dick, Infinite Summer sees Michael Lovett’s NZCA Lines “marry sci-fi futurism to personal intimacies” to produce what must surely be one of the funkiest apocalyptic concept albums of all time. Indeed, also featuring former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and drummer Sarah Jones (Hot Chip, New Young Pony Club), the follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut may center on […]

Named after a term used for trained assassins he heard in a documentary on espionage, Skilled Mechanics sees trip-hop trailblazer Tricky assemble his own killer team for the most collaborative studio effort of his lengthy career. Some of those on board are no stranger to the world of Adrian Thaws, including regular vocalist Francesca Belmonte who lends her sultry tones to the eerie synth-balladry of “We Begin,” drummer Luke Harris […]

As you’d expect from a founding member of studious classical-electro outfit Clean Bandit, British-Ugandan vocalist/rapper Love Ssega certainly isn’t short on brainpower. Born and raised in South London, the 24-year-old graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, then made the brave decision to quit the aforementioned Grammy winners to finish his Ph.D. in laser sensing. Love Ssega (real name Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka) is just as cultured as he […]

Judging by all the pre-release talk of shunning EDM, steering dance music back into a proper direction and making a piece of art, you’d expect Steve Angello’s second solo LP, Wild Youth, to be something of a game-changer. So it’s slightly baffling to hear that the Stockholm DJ has delivered the kind of unadventurous, generic and largely forgettable record he appears to be rallying against. Indeed, featuring guest appearances from […]

David Bowie, arguably one of the most influential figures in modern music for the past 40-plus years, died on Sunday, Jan. 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. While previous rumors of his death in years past were greatly exaggerated, the news has been confirmed by Bowie’s representatives and his son Duncan Jones (via Twitter). The following statement appears on Bowie’s official Facebook page: “David Bowie died peacefully […]

So after crowning Jamie xx’s “Loud Places” and Bob Moses’ Days Gone By as the greatest single and album of 2015 respectively, we now switch our attention to what we can expect to hear over the next twelve months in the world of dance/electronica. The first big album out of the blocks this year is Moth (Jan 22), the third album from alt-pop duo Chairlift, which judging by its first […]

Indie/Alternative Music

At this point in their career, it feels like The National is a band swirling in happy irony. There’s an unwritten rule, for example, that “true” progressive indie acts should not achieve mainstream popularity, and those that do are scrutinized for it (which is the reason why some of them feign disdain for the system that enabled their success, essentially biting the hand that feeds them). Then there’s the irony […]

While indie pop/rock singer-songwriter Josh Pyke is perhaps a new name for some here in the US, in his homeland of Australia it’s almost difficult to classify him as an up-and-comer, since he’s been a charting artist there for several years. His first three albums all hit the Top 5 on the ARIA charts, and his songs are regular fare on national radio Triple J over there. It should come […]

I’m going to try out a new feature this month called “Singles You Shouldn’t Miss”—a quick run-down of current tracks by artists you probably know, along with a few you probably haven’t heard of, but should. Some have new albums out, others have albums coming out soon—but in any case, if you’re a fan of indie-styled music, hopefully this feature will put some fresh tunes on your radar. At my […]

Here’s the thing: Before releasing their third studio album Modern Vampires Of the City, Vampire Weekend had already put themselves in a position both advantageous and precarious. By blending indie-rock/pop elements with electronic production and island sounds and rhythms, they’ve managed to carve out a niche sound, complete with a niche audience that loves pretty much everything they do—so they’ve eliminated the competition, because there’s no other band to compare […]

Here’s a band I think we’ll be hearing a lot more from in days to come. Indie-folk act Churchill (interviewed here on MIMO a few months ago) has been on my playlist for months now, particularly their catchy single “Change.” Things have gone very well for this up-and-coming act since they signed to A&M Octone last summer, including a chance to appear on Jimmy Kimmel (after Morrissey ditched the show […]

When you think about it, She & Him are a near-perfect combination. Take Zooey Deschanel, the geeky/adorable television star of New Girl and the not-so-secret crush of the majority of young guys; pair her up with indie music veteran M. Ward; and get them playing a blend of original and cover songs with a distinct retro-pop feel (complete with very wet echo-chamber reverb). The result is She & Him, an […]

If there’s one thing consistent in Akron/Family’s musical style—one thread or theme you can derive from them—it’s that psychedelia is timeless and without boundaries. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the band’s seventh release Sub Verses. Whether they are channeling 1960s Beach Boys or modern-day electronica, these psych-rockers are free-flowing in their experimentation with layers and sounds, filling the dream-space with sound and color that requires no hallucinogen to […]

If ever there was an album to be listened to in a sitting, it’s If You Leave, the debut full-length by UK indie act Daughter. Released in March overseas and just this week in the US, this 10-cut record is perhaps best described as an experience: a study in the beauty of melancholy. Fronted by Elena Tonra (whose vocals echo with reminders of Cat Power and Feist), this 3-piece act […]

Since officially forming a little over three years ago, LA-based indie-rockers The Mowgli’s have been spreading good vibes with their contagious combination of rock, folk and surf elements–sort of a blend of the joy of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros with the musical legacy of Laurel Canyon. Their EP Love’s Not Dead, and their recent single “San Francisco” in particular, have generated plenty of buzz in recent months. Recently […]

In a way, the story of French alt-rock-turned-synth-pop outfit Phoenix parallels the mythical creature from where they derive their name. After a decade wallowing in the ashes of relative obscurity, the band rose from said ashes to international stardom with their fourth studio album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix in 2009. But that kind of success is a double-edged sword, because it puts the band in the position of having to produce […]

Sporting an indie-folk vibe with a distinct West Coast flavor, Family of the Year is one of those DIY bands that has been building a solid following with little more than hard work, lots of touring…and most importantly, some really, really good music. In fact, chances are you’ve already heard them. If you watch any television, you’ve likely seen Advil commercials, and heard the catchy “La-la-la-la-la” chorus in the background. […]

It occurs to me that Thee Oh Sees have a penchant for mixing seemingly unrelated things together in ways that other bands can’t. Take, for example, their musical style: a unique cocktail of surf, psych, garage and indie rock. Not only do they blend these elements together seamlessly, but with seven albums released in the past five years alone, they do it very prolifically, as well. Then there’s the latest […]

Time for a bit of honesty: I experienced a little bit of mixed emotion, and a lot more in the way of confusion, in listening to Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ latest release Mosquito. But it will take a little bit of a setup to explain why. Does anyone remember the detour U2 took in the early 1990s? They’d reached a real pinnacle with 1987’s The Joshua Tree, an album that played […]

Here’s a helpful hint: don’t even try to figure out British Sea Power. Just enjoy the enigma. Carrying on their tradition of creativity and unpredictability, the Brighton-based indie-rockers’ sixth studio album Machineries of Joy provides a listening experience that is nothing if not intriguing. Swinging between manic punk-infused rock and airy ballads—punctuated, of course, by unexpected lyrics like “You were my Pyrex baby / Made entirely of glass / You […]

Apparently, there’s only so much creativity to be had with a guitar in a bedroom. For the past several years, singer-songwriter Sam Beam (aka Iron & Wine) has been on a consistent trek away from the whisper-quiet folk that defined The Creek Drank the Cradle, and toward bigger and bigger arrangements, peaking with 2011’s Kiss Each Other Clean. With his fifth full-length studio release Ghost On Ghost, Beam continues this […]